...the more you're slip slidin' away...

At the presidential level, there is a mismatch between the talents needed for campaigning and the skills needed for governing.  Political amateurism in the White House is one product of a primary system that rewards anti-Washington showmanship more than it does a proven capacity to forge the coalitions necessary to govern.

~  The Power Game:  How Washington Works, by Hedrick Smith.  Random House (New York).  1988.

     ^^  Now, with two miscreants sitting on the Supreme Court 

instead of only one, the Court loses some of the trust which we, the people, have given them in the past.  In his book, The Power Game, Hedrick Smith wrote that power is like mercury -- it slips and slides around.  It can be one place, and then if it's pressured, it can slip/zip over to another place.  One person or group of people forfeits power by misuse, or some other reason, and then another person or group picks up the power and starts using it.

     Kavanaugh is not all Trump's fault, this president was advised on who to nominate, probably by such corporate-funded organizations as the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist-something, and he took their advice, to move the high court further to what political people call "the right."


     One looks at Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh and wonders, Why can't conservatives find candidates for these positions who do not have narcissistic boundary issues?


     Another idea:  besides reading one serious news article every day, to keep up and be aware of what's happening in our country and in the world, I think  maybe we as American citizens have to keep track of Supreme Court cases and decisions, too.  

I used to never think about the Supreme Court because in our society you tend to just believe they will do a good job and you ignore them and concentrate on your own life and work and priorities (and delights).  

But now it seems like we need to increase our awareness of what's going on, pay attention, and participate.  (Like the advice you always hear about traveling, or being in a strange city:  Be aware of your surroundings.)  We Americans sat back and relaxed, and tuned out ("I never pay attention to politics"), and now look what we've got....  

     I have to find out, What's the best way to keep up with the Supreme Court business.  

Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas



...A source with actual information, not 8 billion websites that say EVERY DECISION THE SUPREME COURT MAKES IS GREAT!, "balanced" with 8 billion websites that say EVERY DECISION THE SUPREME COURT MAKES STINKS!  

Those kinds of sites that just try to wind us up and make us mad are propaganda, not legitimate information.  So I have to try to find a good source.  (I'm not reading 8 billion websites...).

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     Contemplating the mercurial nature of power -- slipping and sliding -- reminds us of a very good song:

Type in

Slip Slidin' Away, Paul Simon

and turn it up!

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